And sell the patrimony to ensue I carry water in an open siue And change for lentil pottage birth-right due Too late alas my folly I do rue Who worlds delight preferred haue so long Reiecting heauenly knowledge treasure true Vnto my soule imposing open wrong Yet not so late ô Lord I pardon craue But yet one blessing thou for me wilt haue SON XCVIII A Sinfull Syrian Lord my father was Exilde from Paradise by iust desart I wandred into Egipt there alas To finde in world some food to please my hart Where seruile bondage vnto sin and smart I suffered so long through Satans rage That heauenly aide I crau'd thence to depart Which only able was my griefe t' asswage From silly seruant and an abiect page Thou broughtst me forth to knowledge of thy truth The blessed land and showdst me on a stage A patterne how to guide my wandring youth Such frutes therfore as faithfull soile doth yeeld I offer here first crop of blessed field SON XCIX I See alas proud Satan hath too long Defrauded thee ô Lord of that is thine And loue of world hath drawne me vnto wrong Whose heart thy offrings to bestow repine My outward knees vnto thee do incline My tong doth promise present of my store I say these gracious gifts are none of mine But will them all thy Aulter laie before But vanities doth presse me euermore And want of faith to leaue some part behinde Although I see death readie at the dore My hollow heart and lewd deceipt to finde Grant that I may my soule my power my will Present ô Lord to serue thee onely still SON C. SInce thou by grace out of wilde Oliue stocke Hast pleasd me Lord within thy Church to plant And reckon me as of thy proper flocke Who else all pleasant frute by nature went Vouchsafe my thankfull frutes be not so scant As cause thee to reiect me backe againe Of former bountie Lord do not recant But let me in thy garden still remaine By mercy not by merit I attaine This blessing promised so long before Let not this gift of thine returne in vaine But let thy goodnesse multiply the more Make sweet the frutes which bitter are by kinde Increase thy grace in bodie and in minde CONCLVSION MOurne thou no more my soule thy plaint is heard The bill is canseld of the debt it owes The vaile is rent which thee before debard And Christ his righteousnesse on thee bestowes Thus comfort to the patient alwaies growes If they attend the time God hath assignde Our strength to beare our maker best he knowes And at a need is readie for to finde Our Sauiour is so mercifull and kinde Vnto our selues he will not leaue vs long He castes our faults through loue his back behinde And turnes our plaints into more pleasant song And when we are euen at the gates of hell His glorie mercie power doth most excell THE SECOND PART OF CHRISTIAN PASsions Containing a hundred Sonets of Comfort Ioy and thankesgiuing PREFACE SOme men do mourne for suddeine ioy they say And some likewise in midst of sorrow sing Such diuers frutes do passion often bring As reason cannot course of Nature stay And happie sure he is I not denay That both these motions hath from heart contrit When frailtie of his flesh appeares to sight And mercy calling him backe from decay Who can behold the flesh and spirit fight The doubtfull issue and danger of the thing The losse whereto our nature might vs fling And gaine which grace doth giue through Sauiors might And not delight To glorifie his name And yet lament his proper natiue shame SON I. AS through a mist or in a cloud a farre I see a glimse of heauenly grace to shine And to reuiue the fainting faith of mine And spirits which with darknesse shadowed are The fleshly fog of sin did iudgment barre Of proper vse of power of reason sound Which in first parents franckly did abound And better part of natures strength did marre But since my eyes of grace a sight haue found Of that eternall light which doth incline Fro out these fogs of feare I hope t' vntwine And force of fainting faith for to confound And on a ground More firme wil build my trust And that in Christ whose promises are iust SON II. CLeng'd are the cloudes and darknesse fled away And now in triumph doth my Sauiour ride Sin hell nor death dare not his sight abide The world nor Satan can his progresse stay This piercing light of truth shall so bewray Ech stratagem their practise doth deuise Against my soule that there shall not arise One cloud of care to darken this my day But that my thoughts like to the Pilate wise Shall looke about lest that my heart should slide And by this sunne my course so constant guide That all their slightes shall not my soule disguise Which now espies The malice they me owe Which lōg they clothd with shade of plesāt show SON III. WHen as my conscience layeth forth before My thoughts the sinnes which daily I commit I thinke my selfe an instrument vnfit To witnesse forth thy glory any more But when I see that sin was first the dore By which death entred and such hold did take That death did first our want apparant make And want first cause that man did ayd implore That praiers first thy mercies do awake That mercies do renue our dulled wit That ioyed heart should not vnthankfull sit And thanks to thee doth fleshly glory shake It straight doth slake The fear which bad me stay And bids me still proceed to praise and pray SON IIII. SInce to so holy vse I consecrate The silly talent Lord thou lentst to me That it a trumpe vnto thy praise might be And witnesse of their woe that thou doest hate Doe thou ô Lord forget the abiect state Of flesh and bloud base mettle of my frame And since that thou hast sanctified the same Vouchsafe thy grace my weaknesse may abate Thou that my former wandring will didst tame And me prepare in minde to honour thee Canst giue me gifts the which thereto agree How ere my proper power be weake and lame So shall thy name Be precious in my sight And in thy praise shall be my whole delight SON V. VVOuld God I were as readie to confesse And yeeld thee praise sweet Sauiour day by day As to craue my wants I am forward ay And feruently at need to thee to presse To beg of thee alone thou wilst no lesse Because thou onely able art to giue And with each needfull thing by which we liue Thou promisest our prayers thou wilt blesse But we with vse of them should not so stay And onely seeke to thee when need doth driue Whose blessings running through an open siue No praise for recompence vnto thee pay But when we pray We should thee laud also Our thankfull harts with bountie thine should go SON VI. I Haue begun ô Lord to run the
affections free And in that world no vaine delights shall bee verse 9 These things and more he spake for more he knew the more he taught His people knowledge for their good in all his words he sought 9. And the more wise the Preacher was the more he taught the people knowledge Full many other learned workes beside He wrote for more he knew the more he taught Whereby themselues the godly sort might guide Vnto the wisedome which they wrongly sought And he with care and study dearely bought Three thousand morall rules in writ abide In prouerbs and in adages for skill So sound that they worlds censure may abide And to a ciuill life reduce thee will Without offence of lawes and with content Of such with whom thou daily shalt frequent And caused them to heare Of natures workes with supernaturall skill He many volumes did compose likewise Not curious workes as some profanely will Of Alcumy or iudgements which arise By heauenly motions farre aboue the skies But he his knowledge hath contained still Within the lawfull bounds of Gods decree And therefore many volumes he did fill With medcinable vse of things which bee Abstracted out of tree shrub mettall stone Of beast fish fowle and creatures euery one He sought by parables to giue them precepts how to liue verse 10 And with adorned words to them he doubly grace did giue 10. And searched forth and prepared many parables His heauenly Muse with wings of zeale did fly Aboue the common pitch of earthly men And so inflamed were his thoughts thereby With holy liking of his loue as then That he could not containe his gratefull pen. In thousand songs and fiue his powers did try The prayses of his sacred soules delight In whom sweet peace and loue he did espy Which from him loue of world did banish quight Among the which that song of songs by name Describes her beautie did him so inflame The preacher sought to find out pleasant words and an vpright writing euen the words of truth But this his large discourse was chiefly ment To teach the world to know how farre they stray That do by earthly helpes a meane inuent To leade their liues vnto a happie day Since nature wholy doth the same denay Which for it crosseth carnall mens content And hardly may amongst most wise haue place By this most pleasant stile about he went To giue to naked truth a comely grace For hardly can corrupted man digest Right wholesome food vnlesse it well be drest verse 11 For wise words are like goades and nailes which workmens hands do ding verse 12 Vaine bookes and reading shun they wearinesse of flesh do bring 11. The words of the wise are like goades like nayles fastened by the masters of the assemblies which are giuē by one Pastor And wise mens sayings spoken to the wise Well fraught with matter couched well by art Adornd with words and figures whence arise Content vnto the eare and moue the hart Most soone do worke impressions in each part And as they sooner pierce so firmlier lies The mind resolued in such fownded ground Than any planke or post you can deuise With nayle by hammers forced nere to sound And such this princely Prophets words esteeme Which are more waighty far thē thou woulst deeme 12. And of other things besides these my sonne take thou heed for there is none end in making many bookes and much reading is a wearinesse of the flesh And let this graue aduice of father mild Which louingly he wrote I bring to thee Be neuer from thy hart so farre exild That with the world againe sedust thou bee Wherein is nought but wretchednesse you see And striue to practise as you knowledge build Else is your learning vnto little end These many bookes wherewith this world is fild Do slender profit to the readers lend Which stuft with words of superficiall show But little fruit by them to world doth grow verse 13 Heare th' end of all feare God keepe his law this is mans dew verse 14 For God wil iudge ech work bring our secret thoghts to vew 13. Let vs heare the end of all feare God and keepe his commaundements for this is the whole dutie of a man The end of all true wisedome is in this To know the will of God and it obserue To know his will and yet to walke amis A double chastisement must needs deserue Then feare henceforth therefro so oft to swarue No seruile feare which I perswade it is But such as gratefull child to parent owes VVho though he feele the smart the rod will kisse Because the fruit of fathers loue he knowes And this doth God require of man indeed That our obedience should from loue proceed 14. For God will bring euery worke vnto iudgment with euery secret thing whether it be good or euill The breach whereof will heauie iudgement call VVhen God the searcher of the heart and raines Shall vnto reckning with vs for them fall And pay our passed ioyes with lasting paines For sinfull worke no other guerdon gaines O happie then shall they be most of all VVhose heedfull liues in holy workes were spent The gaine of this their trauell is not small For blessed they the narrow path that went And though this narrow gate few enter in Yet who runs on this race the prize shall win FINIS Adue to worlds vaine delight YE worlds delights blind guides to blisse adue VVeake helpes which fit a carnall vaine desire My soule can find but comfort small in you Though as true blisse profane sort you admire My soule doth will my thoughts from ye retire In faith to place my hope of firmer stay To gaine true blisse lesse toyle it doth require Then worlds vaine pleasure doth by farre away Your false and fickle grounds do well bewray Your liking base effect of fond desire The earth your seat doth perfectnesse denay My soules true hope inspir'd with heauenly fire There seekes to liue where blisse is firme and true And by reformed life would heauen pursue Sundry Psalmes of Dauid translated into verse as briefly and significantly as the scope of the text will suffer by the same Author Psalme 27. 1 THe Lord he is my sauing light whom should I therefore feare 2 He makes my foes to fall whose teeth would me in sunder teare 3 Though hosts of men besiege my soule my heart shall neuer dread 4 So that within his Court and sight my life may still be lead 5 For in his Church from trouble free he shall me keepe in hold 6 In spight of foes his wondrous prayse my song shall still vnfold 7 Haue mercie Lord therefore on me and heare me when I cry 8 Thou badst me looke with hope on thee for helpe to thee I fly 9 In wrath therefore hide not thy face but be thou still my aide 10 Though parents fayle thou wilt assist thy promise so hath said 11 Teach me thy truth and thy right path
least that the enemy 12 Preuaile against my life whose tongues intrap me trecherously 13 My heart would faint for feare vnlesse my faith did build on thee 14 My hope my God and comforts strength who will deliuer mee Psalme 71. 1 IN thee ô Lord I trust therefore from shame deliuer mee 2 Performe thy promise saue thou me who call for helpe to thee 3 Be thou my rocke of strength and shield whose powre is great might 4 Deliuer me from wicked men and put my foes to flight 5 For in thee onely from my youth haue I my trust reposd 6 Thou hast had care of me whilst yet in wombe I was inclosd 7 Thee will I praise who art my helpe when men at me do scorne 8 My mouth thy mercies still records who helpst the mind forlorne 9 In time of age forsake me not or when my strength doth faile 10 Least that the counsels of my foes against my soule preuaile 11 Who say my God hath me forgot they therefore me pursue 12 But be thou Lord at hand to me who canst my strength renue 13 Shame and reproch let be their share which my destruction seeke 14 But on thee alwayes will I waite with humble hart and meeke 15 My mouth thy mercies shall rehearse whose measure doth excell 16 And in thy trust my steps shall walke and tongue thy truth shall tell 17 Euen from my youth thou hast me taught thy wonders well I know 18 And whilst I liue if thou assist I will thy iudgements show 19 Thy iustice Lord I will exalt whose workes are like to thine 20 Who threw'st me downe and raisd me vp who else in dust had leine 21 Thou canst mans honor soone increase and shew thy chearefull faces 22 Vpon the Vyall will I sing thy prayse ô God of grace 23 My lips shall ioy to talke of thee who hast my safety wrought 24 My freed soule shall still confesse who hath my safety bought Psalme 119. 1 BLessed are those whose wayes are right and in Gods lawes do walke 2 Whose heart obeyeth to his will and lips thereof do talke 3 Such do not worke iniquitie but so their wayes direct 4 That in their life by straying steps thy lawes they not neglect 5 O would to God my deedes therefore so straightly I might frame 6 That with regard of thy precepts I might be free from blame 7 Then shold I prayse with vpright hart thy righteous iudgemeÌ„ts known 8 Which whilst I study to obserue Lord let thy helpe be showne PART 2. 9 By looking to thy lawes most soone a man may perfect grow 10 Since then my heart hath sought the same astray let me not go 11 Thy promises in mind I beare which me from sinne withdraw 12 Thou gracious God and blessed guide teach me thy perfect law 13 My tongue hath testifi'd thy prayse and iustice thou doest vse 14 To follow freely thy beheast I 'le worldly wealth refuse 15 For of thee will I meditate and studie whilst I liue 16 And to obey thy iust precepts my mind will wholly giue PART 3. 17 Be gracious to thy seruant Lord giue life and powre to mee 18 Open my eyes that of thy lawes I may the wonders see 19 I am a stranger vpon earth hide not from me thy will 20 My heart doth swell with hoat desire to know thy iudgements still 21 Thou hast destroyd the proud and curst are they which go astray 22 Shame and contempt yet take from me who keepe thy lawes alway 23 Though Princes hate me for thy truth yet will I thee obay 24 Thy lawes shall be my studie still and comfort night and day PART 4. 25 My soule with sorrow is opprest giue me thy promist aide 26 Thou knowst my sinnes I do confesse thy wrath makes me affraid 27 But teach thou me thy truth that I thy wonders may admire 28 For shame of sinne soâ—daunts my hope it dares not helpe desire 29 If thou redresse my blinded steps and teach to me thy will 30 Thy ordinances will I keepe and looke vpon them still 31 Thou are the portion I do chuse ô Lord confound me not 32 But guide my steps to run that race the which thy lawes alot PART 5. 33 Teach thou thy statutes vnto me that I may keepe them all 34 Giue thou the knowledge of thy will and turne my hart withall 35 Direct me in thy path ô Lord therein is my delight 36 Incline my mind vnto thy word and sinne put thou to flight 37 Turne thou my eyes from vanities and do thou quicken mee 38 Performe thy promise made to me whose hope depends on thee 39 Preuent the shame I feare because thy iudgements all are iust 40 Behold I would performe thy will thy grace relieue me must PART 6. 41 Then let thâ— promise kindly made O Lord fulfilled be 42 So shall I sâ—â—se my iust rebuke and giue the praise to thee 43 Take not away from me thy truth for on thee I attend 44 But let my lips speake of thy praise vntill my life doe end 45 My feete shall freely follow thee vntill the truth I find 46 I will not shame to Kings thy truth to preach with constant mind 47 Yea all my solace shall be still my loue of thee t' expresse 48 My lifted handes vnto the heauens thy glory shall confesse PART 7. 49 Remember then thy promise made wherein thy seruant trusts 50 In trouble iâ— doth comfort me my soule thereafter lusts 51 The wicked haue derided me thy lawes yet haue I kept 52 I cald to minde thy iudgements past whereby in peace I slept 53 Sorrow and feare afflicted me to see how wicked men 54 Thy lawes transgresse in pilgrims life yet sing I to thee then 55 In darknesse and by night thy name and lawes I keepe and feare 56 Which blessing thou bestoweâ—â— on me thy will in mind to beare PART 8. 57 O Lord thou art my portion I thy law will still obserue 58 My hearty prayers made to thee and promise thine preserue 59 I haue reform'd my wayes and will to thy behests obay 60 With speed I will my life amend and make no more delay 61 The wicked haue inticed me but I will turne againe 62 At midnight will I rise to pray till iustice I attaine 63 My company shall such be still as do thy precepts know 64 Thy mercie fils the earth ô Lord to me thy pleasure show PART 9. 65 According to thy word ô Lord thou graciously hast dealt 66 Teach wisedome to thy seruant Lord who in thy law hath dwelt 67 Before I felt thy scourge as then my â—eete did go astray 68 But gracious God direct me now that keepe thy lawes I may 69 The proud against me worke deceipt yet will I follow thee 70 Their hart on folly feedes thy lawes yet shall my comfort bee 71 This fruit affliction brought to me which made me learne thy law 72 A greater treasure to my mind then heretofore I saw
rau'ning woolfe in fearefull wise I call to thee sweet Sauiour shepheard true Teach me to know thy voice and thee insue SONET X. BEhold ô Lord the Citie thou hast built Ierusalem this fleshly frame of mine By sin Assyrians sword is almost spilt And like to yeeld to Rabsake in fine Yet lo alas my soule doth much repine To see proud Satan so blaspheme thy name To threaten ruine to this temple thine Since thou art praysd and honord in the same Thou able art the rage of lust to tame The force of pride and furie to subdue Against Senacherib thy Angell came And all his host in one night ouerthrew So let thy holie spirit me defend And to my plaints and praiers comfort send SON XI SInce with Goliah I am now to fight And lacke the slight of holie Dauids sling Arme thou me Lord with heauenly armor bright Which power of flesh world to foile may bring Thy righteous brest-plate gird on me with truth Prepare my feet with Gospel of thy peace The shield of faith which firie dartes beare forth Of wicked Satan whose assaults not sease The helmet of saluation and the sword Of spirit which is founded on thy law All these my praiers are that thou afford To make me stedfast spight of lyons claw Who roaring daily seekes as wished pray My silly soule from thee to take away SON XII NOw that thou hast prepard me to confesse Thy seruice Lord the which I vndertake I thee beseech my purpose so to blesse That I a good account to thee may make A Nazarit I am who do forsake The delicacies of the worlds delight Whose thirst thy purest fountaine still shall slake With faith and truth the which with sin shall fight I will not tast the wine of Satans slight Which doth confound all reason and all sence My vow shall be to serue thee day and night And trust in thee shall be my true defence Till death dissolue this promise made to thee Whose strength herein thy heauenly graces bee SON XIII I Seeeke ô Lord to shew thy powrefull hand Which hath conuerted this my sinfull hart Into a rod of strength which still might stand Strong in thy truth who powrefull onely art But Iannes pride and Iambres lustfull hart By â—light imposture of slie Satans might Two Serpents frame which will not thence dâ—paert But seeke against thy powrefull hand to fight But let my faith their fury put to flight And vertue thine deuour these imps of sin Let not these fleshly frutes appeare in sight Of truth which only can the conquest win Let faith shew forth the finger of thy hand And cleane consume ech power doth it withstand SON XIIII BEhold ô Lord a tree by high way side Vnfrutefull yet of any food for thee In high way side as yet I do abide Where passers to Ierusalem I see Though sommer grow I cannot frutefull be Vnplanted by thy grace in garden thine I do confesse I am a wild fig tree For want of moisture which am like to pine Vnto my praiers Lord do thou incline Remoue me home into thy garden faire Let me behold the face of thy sunne shine Which may my withered leaues with life repaire So maist thou tast a frute of wholesome kinde And leaue a marke of mercy great behinde SON XV. VVIthin thy garden Lord I planted was And watred well with thy most carefull hand But yet vâ—frutefull I remaind alas And these thy blessings did not vnderstand In vaine I did employ possessed land Ten times three yeares thy seruants did replant My stocke and sought to bend my crooked wand And did supply ech aide I seem'd to want At length my frutes which daily grew more scant Wild thee resolue to haue me weeded out My foule affections were with folly brant My roote of faith was shakt with feare and doubt And lo I pine sweet Sauiour water me Paul and Apollos worke else lost will be SON XVI A Wicked Pharisie I long haue bene Whom sight of mercies thine allure to thee A shamed Lord of my faire clothed sinne In secret night I seeke thy face to see That thou art God thy woâ—kes reueale to me That thou art mine thy sonne doth me assure Vouchsafe that I regenerate may be And that my praiers pardon may procure Purge by thy sprite and faith faire fountaine pure The senses dull that cannot vnderstand The heauenly birth which shall in blisse endure Not subiect vnto Satans sinfull band And with thy sonne let worlds affections die My soule from hell with him ascend on hie SON XVII FIue foolish virgins in my senses dwell And seeke to make me slumber ouer long They dreame that all my deeds do fall out well Whereas indeed I headlong run to wrong To vanities their humors do belong And sin who doth their fancie chiefly feed They cheined are to linkes of lust so strong That their best foile brings forth but bitter weed They lacke the oyle which should be vsde indeed To lead them to the euerlasting light It growes not Lord in frute of humane seed Man sleeps all day and gropes his way at night Vnlesse thou lend thy hand and fill our lampes Our light goes forth with smothering sinful daÌ„ps SON XVIII OVt of the fountaine of eternall life I poore Samaritan here readie stand To sinfull lustan old betrothed wife With pitcher readie in my trembling hand To wraw a draught of liquor most diuine To quench the thirst of my inflamed hart With heauenly deaw ere that my soule do pine And qualiâ—ie the rigor of my smart A Prophet true thou art I vnderstand Or rather father of all truth thou art A stranger I from faire Iudaea land With these thy blessings craue for to impart Then guide my hand and teach my soule to tast True faith the fountaine where all blisse is plast SON XIX A Wicked soule sold to all fleshly sin Lord here I prostrate at thy feete do lie To gather crummes of grace soules health to win Which Lord to giue me do thou not denie The precious oyle of penitence will I Powre forth with teares fro out my melting eyes To bath thy feete and after will I drie Them with my haires which balms no treasure bies Though worldly loue when he my fact espies Repine to see my soule so well inclind To my defence ô Lord vouchsafe to rise And fructifie this first frute of my minde Vouchsafe to sup with humble seruant thine And that of seruice better choyse be mine SON XX. A Poore Arabian whom base Agar bare First borne of flesh but last of promist grace Of bastard kind bred vp with mothers care In wildernesse of world for a long space And famishing before my parents face Whose workes vnable were to lend me aide A bond man vnto sin as fleshly race To whom heauens heritage thy lawes denaide Amidst my wandring course by thee am staide And haue a promise not to die but liue Thy couenant Lord abundantly is paide If grace
But yet in hope of grace from thee I stay And do not yeeld although my courage quaile To rescue me be'prest I do thee pray If sinfull death do seeke me to assaile Let me runne forth my race vnto the end Which by thy helpe ô Lord I do intend SON LIIII ABase borne sonne to sin by kinde I am From natiue soile by want of grace exilde Of idle fances captaine I became Whilst I in Tob my resting place did bilde With worldly vanities I was defilde Till home thou caldst me by thy heauenly word Who trusting to my selfe was soone beguilde When I sought workes to be a conquering sword Whose vowes did seeme a present to afford Of frute of victorie at my returne Which rashnesse hath a mischiefe great incurd Compelling me my owne deserts to burne And now I mourne and better frute do craue The blessing of thy sonne Lord let me haue SON LV. WHen thou vouchsafedst Lord to raise my state From base degree of common humane kinde And gau'st me knowledge and a will to hate Each wickednesse contrarie to thy minde By promise thou didst me most strictly binde To slaye each wicked seed which doth possesse My sinfull flesh Amalekite most blinde Which vertue and thy grace seekes to suppresse But wretched I alas I do confesse Haue kept a part of that accursed spoile Vndaunted which thou seest nere the lesse And therefore wilt accurse my sinfull soile And take from me the kingdome thou didst giue Except thy mercy do my soule relieue SON LVI THe onelie daughter Lord of my delight Dina the vertue of my iudgment best Is rauished alas by Satans might Whil'st I secure in Hiuits countrie rest In worldlie vanities a wandring guest Amongst the wicked I remainde a while Where sillie she by foolish will addrest Gazde on those godlesse youths which her beguile For lustfull Sichem sonne to sin most vile Did lay a traine of loue which led to shame Whose flattering speech did modestie exile And left a spot of guilt and foule defame But faith zeale the first frutes of my strength By grace shall venge my honour iust at length SON LVII THe silly babes the motions of the minde Which natiue vertue seeketh forth to bring Concupiscence the midwife most vnkinde To deadly sin and Satan straight doth fling The mothers power suffiseth not to wring Out of this tyrants hands her dying childe Her mone to see it is a piteous thing When reasons lawes so lewdly are defilde But if thy fauour Lord be reconcilde By loue vnto thy sonne by him to mee Then though my hope of grace be neare exilde Yet thou a childe Of faith wilt let me see A coffin Lord of comfort for me make Where safe I may swim in the words wilde lake SON LVIII VVHere shall I build ô Lord a quiet rest To bring forth birds of turtle Pigeons kinde My wearied wings do wander without rest And cannot gaine a harbour to my minde The Swallow Lord a setling place doth finde Within thy temple free from Eagles claw Not moued with tempestuous stormes of winde Or dangers which their kind doth stand in awe A place as fit for me my faith once saw VVheras my soule might safely be inclosd Thy Church inuisible to which I draw My life retirde therein to be reposd Make frutefull Lord my barren heart therein Shield me from storme of still assailing sin SON LIX VVHilst in the vale of carnall sense I dwell Foule Sodome sinke of sin and badge of shame Of whose polluted nature I do smell And aptly bend my selfe to them to frame Sent by thy mercie Lord thy Angels came And did vouchsafe a harbor to accept Within my soule which did professe thy name But Satan who a watch on me had kept When as these guests within my conscience slept Inuironed with lust my harbor weake For sorrow of this sin my soule it wept Whilst violently my bodies bands they breake But strike thou blinde their fury them expell Take me Lord from the flame of burning hell SON LX. MY bodie Lord infected long with sin Whose running issue is almost past cure Which helpe my humane phisicke cannot win And without comfort cannot long endure By viewing mercies thine becommeth sure If but thy gracious hem my hand may reach That loue in Christ my pardon shall procure And reunite in strength healths former breach Through presse of worldly lets faith shall me teach To seeke my safetie in thy promise true Vouchsafe thou eke repentance so to preach That I no more offending health insue Thy vertue Lord which bidding me be cleane To yeeld me health of soule is readie meane SON LXI NOw that I see ô Lord my open shame Conuict of sin and voyd of clothing pure Which couer might my soule which naked came Of grace and me from storme of world assure I do mistrust my selfe long to endure The heat and cold which feare and frailtie bring And clothing of my owne workes to procure I finde in deed to be a frutelesse thing To hide my selfe vnder thy mercies wing I therefore hasten now in hope of grace Grant I beseech the world no more me wring Out of thy hands but let me see thy face With faith and comfort clothed by thy hand And Christ thy Sonne in my defence to stand SON LXII VVHilst that the chosen chieftaines of thy word Do bend their power by preaching to subdue The fleshly Canaan and put sin to sword And giue the soule to be possest a new With righteous Israel vnto whom of due Those earthly blessings rather do pertaine They send two spies my secret thoughts to vew The law and Gospell which discouer plaine My fainting force in feare for to remaine Where yet repentant Rahab readie is To lodge them safe whilst Satan seekes in vaine To slaie these messengers of heauenly blis I craue therefore sweet Sauiour for a sine Faith bearing frutes as pledge of safetie mine SON LXIII HOw oft ô Lord with more then tender care Hast thou by Prophets cald me to repent How great thy loue by sonne which didst not spare To staie me backe from hell whereto I went Who to that end from heauen to earth was sent Whose graces daily preached offred peace And sought to stop my course to ruine bent And me from guilt of death for to release Like as the henne whose voice doth neuer cease To clocke her tender chickens vnder wings When furious foules on silly pray do prease And would deuour alas the helplesse things Such Lord thy care I feele and loue of me That thrall to Satan wouldst not haue me be SON LXIIII. VVHilst with the wholesome food of heauēly truth The Manna which thy written word doth giue Thou soughtst ô Lord to feed my wandring youth That it in plenteous peace by grace might liue By lust lo Satan sought my soule to driue To breake obedient bands vnto thy law Which my offences I protest do griue My helplesse heart the which delight did draw
he the power of hell will cleane deface SON XVII BEtwixt two strong extreames my thoughts do flie Twixt heat and cold twixt heigth and depth below And both of them from one desire do flow The surest way to sauing health to trie Faith bids me mount vnto the heauens hie Vpon the merits of my sauior deare A guiltie conscience bids me not come neare Lest in consuming Iealousie I die A heart contrite doth will me to appeare With works of righteousnesse true faith which show Faith saies that god my streÌ„gth power doth know And that I cannot finde saluation here But bids me cheere My soule nothing feare Loue in his sonne will make him me forbeare SON XVIII FRom far I see the stars which guide the way From East to West to finde my sauiour out I well might wander all the world about To seeke saluation and in one place stay I shining truth did not his house bewray Which in his word points forth his dwelling place By which directed I will walke a pace Whilst yet I do enioy the light of day And when I come before his blessed face To offer vp my presents will not doubt Although their basenesse all the world should flout So that my faith I may him once imbrace Which giueth grace And makes accepted well Mean works as much as those which more excell SON XIX NOw will I daunce ô Lord before the traine Of those which following thee seeke home to draw Thy holy Arke the treasor of thy law That it with vs may pledge of peace remaine I care not though the world my deede disdaine And thinke it not beseeming thing for me In such a worke an instrument to be Whose yeares they deeme more fit for other vaine For so I Lord thy sauing heath may see And scape the harme of cruell Satans paw Though all the scorners of the world me saw Yet would I not ashamed be of thee For being free Of holie promist land I care not how my state on earth do stand SON XX. NO recompence ô Lord is fit for thee If duly thy desert we do regard Ne hast thou want or need of mans reward At whose command all creatures readie bee Yet if our thankfull minds thy goodnesse see Confessing whence to vs these blessings flow And in the vse of them obedience show Although alas it be in meane degree Thou yet doest frame thy loue to ours below And as thou findst the giuers heart preparde Who to his power his present hath sparde So doest thou cansell debt which he did owe And doest bestow More graces then we craue For which naught els but thaÌ„ks thou lokst to haue SON XXI HOw precious are the praiers of thy Saints Which able were thy threatned wrath to stay And make the sunne returne in pride of day When as Iosias heart for feare it faints Thy fauour vnto Abram vs aquaints Of how great force repentant heart is found When hauing vowd vile Sodom to confound To staie at seruants sute thy wrath thou daints By prayer man hath powre euen death to wound By praier he may moue amount away A faithfull feruent prayer finds no nay If that the thing we craue be pure and sound Yea God hath bound Him selfe by them to man Whose worthie praise no tongue well vtter can SON XXII THanks will I alwaies studie Lord to pay To thee the giuer of all good and grace And thankfully thy mercies will imbrace And witnesse forth thy workes from day to day My heart my mouth my pen they neuer stay To take occasion freshly to renue The memorie of praises to thee due Lest natures weaknesse let them passe away My frailtie in this point indeed I rue Who till I see new blessings in the place Forget the fauours late before my face And mercies thine from which such bountie grew For it is true So dull our sences are That oft thy blessings do our iudgments marre SON XXIII WHere so I cast about my wandring eye By chance or choice by hap or else by will Before my sight some obiect is there still Wherein thy power and loue I do espye In view whereof if I my thoughts do trye To raise my heart to Ioy I matter finde And vnto thee my loue so firme to binde That tong nor pen should neuer idle lye Whose grace vnto thy creatures is so kinde As patrons of the same the world doth fill Who mad'st not onely but doest still instill Some feeling of the same vnto the minde Which is not blinde Or too much obstinate Which later nature chiefly thou doest hate SON XXIIII VVHilst I do studie fitly to begin To vtter forth some part of my intent Which to thy praise with zeale and loue is bent For freeing me from due reward of sin I finde a laberinth that I am in Of many merits which do me inclose Which as this holie motion in me rose Of diuerse subiects for to treat do win Among the rest my heart hath chiefly chose To giue thee thanks for comfort to me sent In staying me the wandring course I went And feeling faith with knowledge where it growes And though I lose Therwith the worlds delight Yet will I ioy in hope of heauenly sight SON XXV SInce thou hast Lord vouchsaft to send me ayde By holie spirit thine in time of need As Philip to the Eunuch came indeed Which in my wandring iourny me hath stayde Since he hath taught me what thy Prophets sayde And what humilitie was in thy Sonne Whose patience like a lambe hath freedom wonne Vnto my soule for which he raunsome payde I see no earthly things should stay vndone The duties which requirde of me I reed By faith vpon thy promises I feed And to thy Sacraments for strength I runne And thus begunne I will continue still To learne thy lawes and to obay thy will SON XXVI HOw can I limit well my tong or pen Within what bownds may I my selfe inclose Who such a theame to write vpon haue chose Whereon the more I muse more growth it then It fares with me herein euen right as when A hastie mind forgetteth what to speake When staÌ„mering words the perfect sence do breake And makes vs not be vnderstood of men Such worthie matter in my mind there growes So plentifull and I of skill so weake So pleasing to me and so proper â—ake That in the choyce of them I iudgment lose And euen as those Want matter silent be So plentie of thy praise confoundeth me SON XXVII NOw that thy mercies do so much abound As thou vouchsafest Lord with me to dwell And glorious Arke of hope which doth excell Drawne home by hungry faith my heart hath found Since power thereof did sinfull Dagon wound And yet disdaineth not my humble state I freely open Lord my lowly gate Of lips and tong which may thy praises sound Thy blessings seeme to flow to me of late Since in my soule thy word I did embrace My zeale refreshed is
with heauenly grace My comfort wealth that hell cannot rebate In such a rate Thy fauour do I finde As bindes me loue a father found so kinde SON XXVIII WHat should I render thee my Sauiour deare For all the gifts thou doest on me bestowe Whose gracious measure so doth ouerflow As power of recompence cannot appeare I do imbrace thy gifts with ioyfull cheare And to thy alter speedily do runne To follow forth thy praise but new begunne Till all thy people may thy mercies heare Thy glorious image shineth in thy Sonne Thy loue to man did his obedience show His loue and mercy vnto man hath wonne The gifts of grace whence faith and comfort grow Where through we know That we are thy elect And these our feeble frutes wilt not reiect SON XXIX THe powerfull pen the which records thy praise O Lord of life hath many volumes made Thy wondrous works each leafe doth ouerlade Which aye increase as growing are my dayes Vnsearchable indeed are all thy wayes In multitude they number do exceed In glorie they do admiration breed Their goodnesse power of recompence denayes The hungry thou with plenteous hand doest feed Thy fauour to thy creatures doth not fade The more in view of all thy works I wade The more I finde my sense confound indeed But yet in steed Of Eccho to thy fame I will giue thanks and laud vnto thy name SON XXX THis stately stage wherein we players stande To represent the part to vs assignde Was built by God that he might pleasure finde In beautie of the works of his owne hand All creatures of the ayre the sea and land Are players at his appointment of some thing Which to the world a proper vse may bring And may not breake assigned bownds or band Some do in ioy still forth his praises sing Some mourne make their mone with heauy mind Some shew the frutes of nature weake and blind Some shew how grace base sin away doth fling God like a King Beholds Christ doth attire The plaiers with the shape their states require SON XXXI WHo so beholds with constant fixed eye The fauour and perfection of my choyce He cannot chuse but must in heart reioyce That mortall sight may heauenly blisse espie All earthly beautie he will straight defie As thing too base to occupie his braine Whose fading pleasures so are payd with paine That they true tast of pleasure do denie But who so can this perfect sight attaine Cannot containe but yeeld with cheerfull voyce An Eccho to the Angels heauenly noyse Who to his praise do singing still remaine They then are vaine Who fix their sight so low That such a glorious God they will not know SON XXXII O Heauenly beautie of loue the fountaine true Whose shining beames do penetrate my soule With such a zeale as former thoughts controll And drawes heart powre and will thee to insue Thou mak'st my fainting sight for to renue And dazeling eyes new strength thus to attaine To whom alone perfection faire is due Thou mak'st earths bewteous shadow seeme but vain Thy works of glorie and of powre remain Ingrauen in thankfull hearts which them inroll Thy loue and mercy made thee pay the toll Which to our dying soules true life did gain Thy loue doth wain My thoughts frō baser loue And mak'st my heart and mind to soare aboue SON XXXIII IF beautie be as men on earth suppose The comely shape and colours which agree In true proportion to the thing we see Which grace and fauour both do neuer lose If white and red be borrowd from the Rose If bright and shining to the sunne compar'd If high and straight to goodlinesse w'award And beautie haue such base descriptions chose Then let the wise this beautie true regard Where all perfections in one subiect be Surpassing frute of the forbidden tree Which but to tast man suffred deaths reward Which is prepard And offred to our sight In Christ to loue and feed vs day and night SON XXXIIII HOw may this be that men of searching mind Whose curious eyes in beautie do delight The pleasing obiect of their fancies sight In outward shape and colour comfort find And yet the better beautie leaue behind Vnsought or vnregarded of at all Compard to which none can it beautie call Vnlesse a buzzard whom affections blind This earthly forme of flesh it is so small Of worth to charme the sence of noble spright As is a starre before faire Phoebus bright Whose glory doth their borrowed beauti apall Thus wise men fall Whom camall eies do guide Whose iudgement may not vertues sight abide SON XXXV O Heauenly loue with God thou dwelst for aye Thou passest faith and hope in dignitie Thou keepst the law thy feet step not awrie In all mens danger thou the surest stay To our request thou neuer sayest nay Ne wrath ne enuy moue thee ere a whit Thou multitude of sinnes in man doest quit Thou law and Gospell both dost ouer sway Thou doest with God aloft in heauens sit With God in counsell thou art alwaies by Thou causest Christ mans weaknesse to supply And makest vs receiue the frute of it And euery whit Of goodnesse that we haue Loue made him send who loue therfore doth craue SON XXXVI THe shining face of my faire Phoebus deare Whose glorie doth eclipse each other light Presents himselfe vnto worlds open sight Their blinded eyes with ioyfull view to cheare But sluggish so the greater sort appeare That sleeping in selfe-loue and mind secure The cleare aspect of truth they not indure Nor of their blindnesse willingly would heare But so my sences do his beautie allure To gaze vpon his louely fauour bright That therein onely haue I may delight Where is all happinesse I do assure He doth procure A plentifull increase Vnto my soule of perfect loue and peace SON XXXVII AVaunt base thoughts incomber me no more By laying forth these earthly wants of mine As though thou wouldst perswade me to repine Because of wealth I haue not needlesse store If thou didst know thy nakednesse before He cloth'd thy soule and fed thy fainting minde With righteousnesse and faith in Sauiour kinde Thou wouldst that former state much more deplore And then confesse the comfort thou doest finde By peace of conscience in this flesh of thine Is greatest riches truly to define So that contentment be not left behinde These gifts me binde To praise his holy name And place chief wealth in knowledge of the same SON XXXVIII I Will not feare with feruency of zeale To follow forth this faire affect of mine To loue of thee which doth my soule incline O Sauiour deare who sure my griefe wilt heale Vnto thy proffred kindnesse I appeale Who of thy selfe didst call me vnto thee And promisedst I should thy darling bee Made free within thy Church and common weale Disparagement there is not now in mee Ne shall distrust forbid me to be thine But faith shall flie aloft to thee in
is none SON XCIII IF I did hope by pen to patterne out The many merits of thy Maiestie Which of thy mercies we do daily trie And endlesse matter I should go about But I alas my strength so much do doubt That nothing lesse then such a thought I haue To point foorth others to a thought I craue Whose confidence in skill is much more stout Yet dare I say that nature neuer gaue The power to flesh and bloud to looke so hye Nor gifts of grace full few there are apply To giue him laud aright that did them saue How to behaue My selfe herein I learne And wish my will might others likewise warne SON XCIIII VVHat tongue or pen can shew it selfe vnkind Vnto a father full of mercy so Who freely doth such benefits besto And of our case hath such a carefull mind Before we were a way he forth did find Whereby to purchase vs in heauen a place When natiue strength our glory should deface A remedie therefore his loue assignd He giues vs knowledge of the same by grace Which offered is to them the which will go Vnto the word where sauing health doth grow And faith through which our Sauiour we imbrace And being base By birth and thrall to hell He vs adopts in childrens roome to dwell SON XCV VVHy should this worldly care haue now such power To quench the comfort which the soule shall find In this our God who is to vs so kind The memorie of which should feare deuoure If faith were watred well with heauenly shower Of grace and knowledge of our happie state It would the force of all assaults abate And be a bulwarke strong at trials hower If we the world and flesh did truly hate And made his will a law vnto our mind If doubt of power or will did not vs blind Which to distrust sets open wide the gate Then would this rate Of worldly care be lesse And he our faith with fauour more would blesse SON XCVI HOw loath this flesh of mine remaineth still To part from sinne his old companion deare Of death or of a change he would not heare But would imbrace him aye with his good will The very thought of death his thought doth kill The very feare thereof his sorrow brings So sweet the pleasures seeme of earthly things That nought else can our fond affections fill But who is wise fro out the snare he wrings Before perforce death doth approch him neare That abstinence no vertue doth appeare When want of power subdues affections stings But who so flings From them when they pursue To him pure name of vertue indeed is due SON XCVII VVHo so would liue of force he first must die Death is the doore which leadeth vnto life Life which shall be deuoyd of change and strife Whose comfort shall our teares of sorrow drie The way is straight the which man must go by If to the heauens he purpose to ascend His grosse corruption must to graue descend And dead the power of sinne therein must lye If he to be regenerate intend First must he mortifie the motions rife Of lust which kill the soule with cruell knife And eke his ruine presently pretend For God will send A happie change indeed As haruest paies with plentie plow-mans seed SON XCVIII VVHen I with griefe sometimes to mind do call The wofull losse that sinne to man hath brought And want which to all creatures it hath wrought By Satans slight and Adams fearefull fall I find no comfort in worlds vse at all But wish to be dissolu'd with Christ to dwell From whom all blessings flow and do excell In thought whereof my comfort is not small Yea I do grow by thinking hereof well Into a doubt if that in truth I ought More sorrow parents fall which death hath brought Or ioy the life through Christ to me befell Yet truth to tell I find the change so good Our state is better now then when we stood SON XCIX IF I can speake and like a coward crake If I can tell the thing the which is best If I in muster seeme to battell prest And yet shrinke backe when I should triall make If I indeuour others to awake Fro out the deadly slumber they are in And yet my selfe cannot reuolt from sin But in the pride thereof do pleasure take By all my trauell I no gaine shall win Although my paine might proue to others blest But as the Symbals sound doth to the rest I mâ—ght haps morne when others mirth begin The feast but thin Would be vnto my share Though many dishes to the guests I bare SON C. FOrtune and chance blind guides to blisse farewell Vpon your leasures I no more attend I not regard what good or ill you send Nor in your tents of pleasures wish to dwell A greater blisse then ere through you befell Ye made me to neglect I now do see Whose hope from feare could nere continue free But aye distrust did gainst my faith rebell The earths delight the which ye promist me Could not my soule from sorrow ought defend Your sweete with sower was mixed in the end So vaine and variable both they be Then happie he That seeketh blessed rest In Christ alone and doth the world detest CONCLVSION VVOrds may well want both inke and paper faile Wits may grow dull and will may weary grow And worlds affaires may make my pen more slow But yet my heart and courage shall not quaile Though cares and troubles do my peace assaile And driue me to delay thy prayse awhile Yet all the world shall not from thoughts exile Thy mercies Lord by which my plaints preuaile And though the world with face should gratefull smile And me her pedlers packe of pleasures show No heartie loue on her I would bestow Because I know she seekes me to beguile Ne will defile My happie peace of mind For all the solace I in earth may find FINIS SVNDRY AFFECTIONATE SONETS OF A FEELING CONSCIENCE PREFACE VVHere hast thou rangd my retchles soul so long How too securely hast thou luld my mind In so long space no cause or meanes to find To once againe renue thy vowed song Be not too bold thinke not thy perill past May be thy iourney is but new begun Pleasures do vanish dangers fly as fast To stop thy course if slowly thou do runne Thy vowes are made they may not be vndonne And cause thou hast if blessings not thee blind To keepe thy promise to a God so kind By whom alone thou freedomes rest hast wonne To him nay to thy selfe then do not wrong To whom thy hart powre will by vow belong SON I. OF thee and of thy prayse Lord will I sing Who rid'st on winged Chariot of the skie Whose throne is plast aboue the thrones most hie Whose will doth forme change ech formed thing To thee the offerings of thy bounties gift To thee the due of my attaynd desire I will present and with a voice
cause to blush full oft for shame To see how we neglect our neighbours need How slow to helpe where we might stand in steed How slight excuses we do vse to frame When yet our Sauiour seemeth to respect The silly Oxe which in the ditch doth lye Whose aide a stranger ought not to neglect If but by chance he saw it passing by But if our brother readie were to dye For very want necessities to feed We let him sterue and take of him no need Yea though he craue we sticke not to deny As though it vs suffisd to beare the name Of Christians yet in life deny the same SON XLVI NOt onely doth the Lord repute as good The deedes which he in vs himselfe hath wrought Yea though our wils gainst him in thē haue fought And he perforce by grace our powers withstood But if we euill do by stubborne will And seeke indeed no good at all thereby But euen our lewd affections to fulfill So that all grace in vs do seeme to dye Yet euen in them this good we shall espy If we his children be whom Christ hath bought That he permits vs not to fall for nought But that our frailtie and our wits we try And so more earnestly vnto him pray And find that pretious fruit a Christian may SON XLVII VVE had not need in idlenesse to spend The dayes both few and euill which we haue The reason powre strēgth helth which God vs gaue To some good end no doubt he did vs lend Full many businesses shall we find Enuironing our life on euery side Which if they were retayned still in mind In watch and trauell they should cause vs bide The worldly cares of all men well are tride The daunger of the soule I seeke to saue A world of lusts attend vs to the graue And Sathan lyes in waite to leade vs wide From heauen wherto true wisedome wils vs bend Thinke then if man haue need watch to the end SON XLVIII SInce it hath pleasd the Lord to send such store Of blessings to the bodie that it may In peace and plentie spend one ioyfull day Which many want and it long'd for before I not repin'd that it the same should vse But feard the frailty of the flesh alas Which made my soule for safest way to chuse With Iob in feare and care my time to pas For sacrifice my soule there offered was Thy holy spirit the Priest my will did slay His zeale inflam'd the thoughts which prostrate lay And quencht thy wrath with teares like fluent glas So that though Sathan readie was at dore Me to accuse and try I feare no more SON XLIX VVHat miracle so great hath euer bin So farre from reasons or from natures bounds What thing Gods glory and his prayse resounds More then his mercie in forgiuing sinne If things contrary to their natiue kind To ioyne accord producing strange effects Do admiration breed in euery mind What thing so much Gods glory then detects As this to see how daily he protects And blesseth vs in whom all vice abounds How he doth hide our faults which so him wounds Supplies the want which proper powre neglects Then since distrust his miracles keepe backe Let vs be sure that we true faith not lacke SON L. AS those whose skill with colours life-like draw The portraitures of men with shadowes rare Yet shapes deformed they ne will nor dare To shew to others as themselues them saw So when I make suruay by rule of truth Of all my actions and my soules estate I am asham'd to see the scapes of youth And feare to looke on that I lou'd of late And as I do my selfe euen for them hate So feare I others could no more me spare If I should shew my selfe naked and bare Who with these fowle affects held no debate Yet since they are but breaches of the law The Gospell will me shrowd from Sathans paw SON LI. AMong the many trauels of the iust The last which holy Iob alas sustaind I thinke his soule and bodie most it paind And like thereto vs likewise martyr must When we vpon vs feele Gods heauy curse For sinne from which no one of vs is free That comforters should seeke to make vs worse And friends like foes should our tormenters bee To hud-blind vs when most we need to see By colouring sinne which ought to be explaind Or amplifying errors which are faind To make our soules and bodies disagree All these he felt by friends he most should trust To hell by pride or by dispaire to thrust SON LII SLow is our God indeed and very slo To wrath and that the wicked dearly find His children sooner feele correction kind And so repent whilst sinfull forward go Slow though he be yet sure his iudgements are They are deferd they are not cleane forgot He tries our natures letting raines so farre Lose to our wils till we regard him not But when we furiously to hell do trot He stayes our steps and wils doth gently bind Whiles he the reprobates the more doth blind Till they through sinne do fall to Sathans lot By Gods correcting hand and patience so The one to sinne inclines the other fro SON LIII VVHen I consider of the holy band Of loue and mercie with the Iewes was made The heauenly and earthly blessings which did lade Their soules and bodies whilst in grace they stand When I examine cause of this their change And note in soule and bodie wofull fall How exiles comfortlesse the earth they range Depriu'd of knowledge glory hope and all When I as cause hereof to mind do call Their stubborne faithlesse and ingratefull trade With which the Prophets did them oft vpbrayd And causes were of wrath from heauen not small Me thinkes I see like iudgement neare at hand For trespasse like to punish this our land SON LIIII O That we could be rauished awhile Fro out these fleshly fogs and seas of sin Which grosse affections daily drench vs in And do the tast of perfect sense beguile That so whilst selfe-loue slept true loue might show That pride might so put on an humble mind That patience might in steed of rankor grow And naked truth from craft might freedome find That vertue had some harbor safe assignd And reason had his scope and did begin Of these fowle siends a victorie to win And them in bondage to the soule to bind Then should we see how farre they do exile Our perfect blisse whilst thus they vs defile SON LV. LIke master like the seruants proue say we We therefore are of like of Sathans traine His auncient lesson which did parents staine We learne as yet and lie as fast as he False are his rules himselfe an old deceiuer Vntrue he is vntruth he first did teach God being truth nought can so soone disseuer And no one sin to more offence doth reach Sathan himselfe can not Gods lawes appeach To be vniust nor say we iust remaine But by new
in the doer though our mind And common sense some reason so pretend The deed which meriteth for vertue prayse Must be premeditate in will before Indeuour'd lawfully and which bewrayes No priuate obiect or respect we bore And God himselfe things iudgeth euer more Not by effects as men of wisedome blind But by intentions faithfull honest kind Of such as doing them his aide implore He issue doth to actions different send As he to greater good euer ill will bend SON XCIX IF God should measure vs as we deserue For each offence requiting equally His iustice we with horror should espie From which excuse to shield vs could not serue But iustice his by holy bound restraind Of mercie which doth waighour weake estate A proper counterpoise for vs hath gaind Whilst iustis wrath Christs mercy doth abate His Sonne our Sauiour doth set ope a gate To safetie by the pardon he did bye With bloud most innocent lest we should die Guilty of sin which iustice needs must hate Thus we by faith cannot be sayd to swarue Our faults are his of merits his we carue SON XC IT is a custome that deserueth blame And ouer common with vs now adayes That euery man his fault on other layes And some excuse for euery euill frame And rather then we will the burden beare We lay on God whose prouidence rules all The cause of what our wicked natures were Producers of with wilfull bitter gall Thus from one sin to other we do fall And haires herein our nature vs bewrayes Of parent first who his offence denaies And rather God wife serpent guilty call Then to confesse his proper free will lame And by repentance praise Gods holy name SON XCI HOw can he be the author held of ill Who goodnesse is it selfe and onely true To whom alone perfection still is due And all the world with goodly workes doth fill It is not God it is our selues alas That doth produce these foule affects of sin Our sickly nature first infected was And lacking tast of truth delights therein Our deeds in vs how fowle so'ere they haue bin What good soeuer of them doth insue That part is Gods our corrupt nature drue The worser part and flesh death snares did spin And euen our deeds the which our soules do kill Are good to God and worke his glorie still SON XCII DOth any man desire his life to mend And that of sin he might a lothing finde Let him but on his actions looke behinde Forepast and see where to they most did bend Let him on others looke with equall view And note deformitie of lothfull sin Let reason not affections tell him true The brickle state himselfe to fore was in As doctrine that to penitence doth win And true repentance one of honest mind When he in other sees affects so blind As he in reason thinks could not haue bin Such as him selfe ashameth to defend And to be guiltlese off he would pretend SON XCIII I Haue desir'd and held as chiefe delight To lead my life where mirth did alwaies dwell From soule so sorrow thinking to repell In feast and sport so past I day and night But if as oft there did a dismall chance Befall whereby I found some cause of griefe I was amaz'd dispair'd and as in trance No comfort found or meanes to giue reliefe My former ioyes prouoked sorrow chiefe I loathd the thoughts before did please so well My meditations then of death befell And of worlds pleasures which were vaine chiefe Which made me chaÌ„ge my former humor quight For teares cares sorrows still to be in sight SON XCIIII SInce we are found if we our selues do know To be a barren ground and good for nought Vnlesse by husbandrie we will be brought To aptnesse for some good whereon to growe Since preachers are the husbandmen ordaind And preaching of the Prophets is the seed By whose indeuors onely frute is gaind Of holy life the which our faith doth feed Me thiâ—kes it should a greater aptnesse breed In tennants to this soule which Christ hath bought To haue it so manurde and daily wrought As it might grow to betterd state indeed And yeeld some crop of goodnesse which might show The thankfull hearts which we to God do owe. SON XCV WHen I behold the trauell and the payne Which wicked men in euill actions bide What hazards they assay to goe aside When with more ease they vertue might attaine How theeues and murtherers such boldnesse vse Such watchfull painefull meanes their wills to win As euen religious men do oft refuse To tast of like though they would faine begin I finde too true that we are sold to sin And that the bodie doth the spirit guide That reason yeelds to sense and sense doth hide Lust in his liking which doth forward slide From ill to worse and neuer doth refraine Sin which may sin nor paine which paine may gain SON XCI SInce nothing is more certaine then to dye Nor more vncertaine then the time and howre Which how to know is not in Phisickes powre Yet nature teacheth it to be but nie For that death stealeth on vs like a thiefe And nothing liuing is exempt therefro His malice to preuent is wisedome chiefe That vnprouided he not take vs so As that on sodaine he appeare a foe And vs compulsiuely he do deuowre That God by him in wrath doe seme to lowre And that to death not life we seeme to goe Soe let vs liue that death we dare defie Since heauens eternall life we gaine thereby SON XCVII GReat are the graces God in man doth show All tending chiefly to soules proper gaine That by some meanes at length he might attaine To higher thoughts from earthly base and low Yet since no benefits we do receaue Can so assure vs of his loue indeed That loue of world and earth they can bereaue And make our minds on heauenly ioy to feed Much lesse a new desire in vs can breed To win the heauens by losse of life so vaine This common way by death he made remaine Ineuitable to all humane seed By force those heauenly ioyes to make vs know Which after death in lasting life shall grow SON XCVIII MIght Elizeus wish allow'd be And prayer blest which Salomon did make And canst thou then thy trauell vndertake For worthier prize then they haue showne to thee Sure heauenly wisedome earthly wisedome teacheth Such wisedome findeth grace with God and man Who seeks these first God plenteously him reacheth All other earthly gifts he wisht or can That will I seeke that will I studie than No plenty shall my thirst therafter slake With Elizeus will I alwayes wake And watch the Prophets wayes and manner whan My Sauiour doth ascend that I may see His glory â—and he his grace redouble'in mee SON XCIX LOng do the wicked runne a lawlesse race Vncrost and vncontrolled in their will Their appetites at pleasure they do fill And thinke themselues to be in happie